Miniature rose plant--Meinochot variety

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the miniature class is provided which abundantly forms attractive long-lasting very double currant red blossoms of stable coloration. The plant is bushy, compact and low growing, and forms very vigorous vegetation. The plant is well adapted to greenhouse forcing while grown in small containers, and is particularly well suited for use as a flowering pot plant when grown indoors or outdoors. Additionally, the plant is not particularly affected by cryptogamic diseases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of miniature rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was theproduct of the pollination of the Meidanu variety (also known asTamango, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,857) by the Alain variety (nonpatented inthe United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) of the newvariety was the Ruimired variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,770). Theparentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:

    (Meidanu×Alain)×Ruimired.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and 105plantlets were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of miniature rose plant of the presentinvention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

(a) forms in abundance attractive very double long-lasting blossomswhich are currant red and of a stable coloration which resists bluing,

(b) forms very vigorous vegetation,

(c) exhibits a bushy, compact, and low growth habit,

(d) is well adapted to greenhouse forcing while growing in smallcontainers,

(e) is not particularly affected by cryptogamic diseases.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itis particularly well-suited for use as attractive ornamentation as aflowering pot plant when grown indoors or outdoors. For instance, thenew variety grows well in four inch pots.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, cuttage, etc.Asexual propagation by the above mentioned methods as performed inFrance has shown that the characteristics of the new variety arestrictly transmissible from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named the Meinochot variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety described herein were one year of age and wereobserved during June while growing on their own roots outdoors atLeCannet des Maures, Var, France.

FIG. 1 -- illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 -- illustrates specimens of two floral buds before the opening ofthe sepals;

FIG. 3 -- illustrates specimens of two floral buds at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4 -- illustrates specimens of two floral buds at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5 -- illustrates specimens of two flowers during the course ofopening;

FIG. 6 -- illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening --plan view -- obverse;

FIG. 7 -- illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening --plan view -- reverse;

FIG. 8 -- illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --obverse;

FIG. 9 -- illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --reverse;

FIG. 10 -- illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 -- illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 -- illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 -- illustrates a specimen of mature wood;

FIG. 14 -- illustrates specimens of leaves with three leaflets with theupper surface being shown at the top and the under surface being shownat the bottom;

FIG. 15 -- illustrates specimens of leaves with five leaflets with theupper surface being shown at the left and the under surface being shownat the right; and

FIG. 16 -- illustrates specimens of leaves with seven leaflets with theunder surface being shown at the left and the upper surface being shownat the right.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The terminology whichprecedes reference to the chart has been added to indicate thecorresponding colors in common terms. The description is based on oneyear old specimens of the new variety which were observed during Junewhile growing on their own roots outdoors at LeCannet des Maures, Var,France.

Class: Miniature.

Plant:

Height.--approximately 25 to 30 cm. On average when grown outdoors onown roots, and approximately 15 to 20 cm. On average above the pot whengrown in 4 inch pots.

habit.--Compact and bushy.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: light green, Green Group 143C.

Adult wood: medium green, Green Group 143A.

Thorns.--Size: small. Quantity: average. Color: pinkish on young stemsand pinkish green on mature wood.

Leaves:

Petioles.--Upper surface: striped, reddish brown on young foliage andmedium green on adult foliage with more or less glandular edges. Undersurface: medium green with a few prickles.

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, not wide and linear.

Leaflets.--Number: 3, 5, and 7 (most often). Shape: elliptic. Serration:single and regular. Texture: consistent. General appearance: dense,abundant, and semi-matte. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: mediumgreen, Green Group 143A. Under surface: light green, Green Group 143C.Color (adult foliage): Upper surface: dark green, Green Group 137A.Under surface: greyish green, Greyed-Green Group 191A.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Approximately 1 to 6 per stem.

Peduncle.--Light green, covered with glandular aciculae, its length isapproximately 3 to 4.5 cm. on average.

Sepals.--Upper surface: tomentose and greenish in coloration. Undersurface: medium green, and the outer sepals are only slightlyappendiculated.

Buds.--Shape: globular. Length: approximately 1.5 cm. on average. Size:small. Color upon opening: Upper surface: currant red, Red Group 46A.Under surface: Currant red, Red Group 46A.

Flower.--Form: as a flat cup at opening, then like an umbrella whenfully open, and very double.

Diameter: approximately 3.5 cm. on average. Color (when opening begins):Upper surface: currant red, Red Group 46A. Under surface: currant red,Red Group 46A. Color (when blooming): Upper Surface: currant red, RedGroup 46B. Under surface: currant red, Red group 46B. Color (at end ofblooming): Upper surface: currant red, Red Group 46B. Under surface:currant red, Red Group 46B. Sometimes the stamens and pistils are fullyvisible at the center of the open bloom, thereby revealing straw-yellowcoloration at the center of the bloom. Fragrance: none. Lasting quality:very long. Petal number: approximately 61 to 78 on average. Petal shape:oval. Petal texture: consistent. Petal drop: good. Anthers: brightyellow in coloration. Stamen number: approximately 16 on average.Filaments: very short and light fuschia in coloration. Pistil number:approximately 16 on average. Stigmas: straw-like in coloration. Styles:dark fuschia in coloration, only slightly twisted, and of irregularheights. Receptacle: light green, smooth and in longitudinal section isnarrow and in the shape of a pitcher at the dehiscence of the anthers.

Development:

Vegetation.--Very vigorous.

blooming.--Very abundant.

Aptitude to bear fruit.--None.

resistance to diseases.--Good.

Resistance to frost.--Good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniature rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formsin abundance attractive very double long-lasting blossoms which arecurrant red and of a stable coloration which resists bluing, (b) formsvery vigorous vegetation, (c) exhibits a bushy, compact, and low growthhabit, (d) is well adapted to greenhouse forcing while growing in smallcontainers, and (e) is not particularly affected by cryptogamicdiseases;substantially as herein shown and described.